I Became a Cultural Heritage Terrorist

Kang Jihyun pressed her fingers hard against her temple. No matter how she turned it over in her mind, no answer came. She knew next to nothing about engines, let alone space battleships, and naturally had no idea what she was supposed to do in a situation like this.

She turned her head and looked at Hyperia.

If anyone would know, it would be her. Even if she had overloaded the Warp Engine, she was still the android who managed every system aboard the ship. Surely she would know at least one way to solve a problem of this scale. And even if she didn't, they could at least worry about it together.

"I am the Captain, but..."

Kang Jihyun paused. Just asking something like this was a little embarrassing. Still, she couldn't pretend to know something she didn't.

"We can't just let it keep burning like this. How are we supposed to handle this situation? Do you know a way, Hyperia?"

Hyperia puffed out her chest with complete confidence. There wasn't a hint of hesitation in her.

"We discard the uncontrollable Warp Engine."

"...Excuse me?"

Kang Jihyun's eyes went wide. She wondered if she'd misheard.

Discard the engine. Judging by Hyperia's attitude, it sounded like no big deal. But there was no way it could be that simple. Even Kang Jihyun, who knew nothing about space battleships, understood that this was not a simple problem.

"Discard the Warp Engine? Then what about the battleship? We're not going to just fall out of the sky, are we?"

Panic was written all over Kang Jihyun's voice. Hyperia, on the other hand, didn't so much as flinch. She shook her head, that gentle smile still on her face.

"The primary and auxiliary propulsion systems are functioning normally. We will simply be unable to perform dimensional travel. There will be no issues with standard navigation."

"Standard navigation?"

Kang Jihyun tilted her head.

"So there's other kinds of navigation besides that?"

"If we decommission the Warp Engine, dimensional travel and faster-than-light navigation will become impossible. However, if you have no plans to use those functions, Captain, it is not a significant problem. Abandoning a single Warp Engine is far more efficient than losing the entire vessel."

It was the Warp Engine Hyperia herself had blown. And yet she was completely unfazed. There wasn't a shred of guilt on her face.

Yeah, she's definitely not human.

She looked human and talked like one, but that alien quality was impossible to ignore. Could her emotions never be the same as a person's? Were human feelings something only humans could possess? A philosophical thought flickered through Kang Jihyun's mind — but now was not the time for that.

"Hyperia."

"Yes, Captain."

This would be her first order as Captain. Kang Jihyun put on the most dignified expression she could manage and dropped her voice lower. She wasn't sure it suited her. But in front of Hyperia, she wanted to look as imposing as possible.

"As Captain, I order you. Discard the Warp Engine immediately."

"Order confirmed."

"...What? People are going to die?"

"Cooling systems disconnected. Power coupling disconnected. Anchor release in 3... 2..."

"S-Stop!"

Kang Jihyun shot up from her seat in a panic.

"Hyperia! Wait!"

"Canceling anchor release."

"Hahh..."

Kang Jihyun let out a ragged sigh of relief. Hyperia tilted her head, unable to understand why the Captain had suddenly reversed her decision.

"Captain. With the cooling systems and power ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coupling disconnected, the Warp Engine has become even more unstable. My highest priority is securing the safety of the vessel and the Captain. Will you reissue the order to release the anchors? It must be discarded immediately."

"No. There will be casualties."

Kang Jihyun's tone was firm. But Hyperia still didn't understand.

"We will be fine. We are outside the blast radius."

"That's not the point."

Kang Jihyun clenched her fists. The moment of her death in her previous life flashed through her mind. She hadn't known anything. She hadn't been able to do anything. She had died so meaninglessly. It wasn't as if she'd had some grand dream she wanted to fulfill — but that didn't mean she'd been okay with dying like a dog. She didn't want other people to suffer the same unjust death she had.

KRA-KOOOOOM!

The ship lurched violently. Kang Jihyun staggered and grabbed the command chair. Hyperia stood perfectly upright in place.

"Captain. One hundred twenty seconds until Warp Engine reactor detonation. The Warp Engine must be discarded before the explosion reaches the ship. Will you issue the decommission order?"

Kang Jihyun bit her lip.

Two minutes. That was all the time she had. She needed to find a solution, and fast. She had to survive. And she had to save everyone else. She couldn't give up on either.

As her mind raced, one location surfaced.

"Taereung. We'll dump it at Taereung."

Close to their current position. Few people, and plenty of open space. Taereung was the only place that fit those conditions.

...It's a cultural heritage site, though. Will that be okay?

Kang Jihyun hesitated for a moment.

It's the only close place we've got. What else am I supposed to do?

There was no time.

"The people who are alive now matter more than people who already passed away," she muttered, as if making an excuse to herself. It didn't actually make her feel better. But no other option came to mind.

With a look of resolve, Kang Jihyun turned to Hyperia.

"If we move just a little from here, we'll be over Taereung. Let's dump the Warp Engine there. There probably won't be any casualties. But just in case, can you run the numbers?"

"I will calculate the projected damage if the Warp Engine is discarded under the conditions you have specified."

Hyperia's pupils glowed for a moment. Numbers flickered rapidly across her eyes. Kang Jihyun watched in silence.

"...That many?"

Kang Jihyun's expression hardened. She'd thought there wouldn't be any deaths. The results said otherwise.

"There shouldn't be almost anyone at Taereung at this hour. Why would so many people get hurt?"

"Residual energy remains inside the Warp Engine."

Hyperia explained calmly.

"We previously disconnected the cooling systems and power coupling. In the process, unstable energy accumulated within the engine. If the engine is discarded in this state, the residual energy will be released all at once. Casualties from the explosion cannot be avoided."

"Is there a way to divert the residual energy somewhere else? Like through the ship's cannons, for example?"

"It is possible. However."

For the first time, Hyperia's expression darkened — she who had always either smiled or worn a blank face. There was no time to feel relief at the word possible.

Why? What's the problem?

Kang Jihyun bit her nail. Hyperia's unfamiliar demeanor put her on edge.

"There is one issue."

"What is it?"

"The cannon's capacitor systems were not designed to receive residual energy from the Warp Engine. If we force the injection, there is a high probability that the energy converters in the capacitor systems will be unable to handle the load and will overload."

Kang Jihyun's face went blank. She clung to her concentration and forced the words out.

"That's hard to follow. Can you put it a little more simply?"

"Simply put, there is a possibility the main gun will be damaged."

"How high?"

"By my calculations, 57.4 percent."

"Even if it breaks, we can repair it later, right?"

"Yes. That is possible."

"Then that's fine."

Kang Jihyun didn't hesitate. She trusted her luck. More than anything, it was a choice that could save lives. A 57.4 percent chance the main gun would break. As the price of saving people, she figured it was a gamble well worth taking.

"We'll fire the residual energy through the main gun. And we'll dump the Warp Engine at Taereung."

Having amended her first order, Kang Jihyun cautiously watched Hyperia's face. She was the Captain, but she knew this was a choice that could put strain on the ship. She worried Hyperia might refuse the order.

Fortunately, contrary to her fears, Hyperia looked at her with a smile.

"Captain's order confirmed."

"Can you calculate the casualties under the new conditions?"

"Understood. Recalculating projected damage."

Numbers raced across Hyperia's pupils.

Kang Jihyun looked at her and nodded silently.

"Proceeding with Warp Engine decommission sequence. Moving the vessel to Taereung."

KUUUUUNG!

A low, heavy vibration rumbled through the ship — nothing like a car engine. The Hyperion's massive hull began to move. The surrounding terrain streaked past on the main monitor. Kang Jihyun gripped the armrests of the command chair with both hands.

"Captain. We have arrived over Taereung. Commencing main gun firing sequence immediately. Connecting residual energy diversion systems. Charging initiated."

KUUUUNG.

A low vibration rolled through the entire ship.

"Captain. Discharge preparations complete."

Hyperia turned her head and looked at Kang Jihyun steadily. Understanding what that meant, Kang Jihyun reached out her hand.

"Hyperia. Fire the main gun."

KRAAAAAAAAAANG!

The bridge shook violently with a heavy rumble. At the same time, a colossal beam of light erupted from the Hyperion's bow.

"Whoa..."

Kang Jihyun's mouth fell open without her realizing it. The clouds split apart, and white light poured through the gap. The night sky, with its full moon hanging overhead, was instantly painted white. It was as if an entire galaxy of starlight had come pouring down from the heavens all at once. Kang Jihyun stared, transfixed, at a scene that looked like a painting.

"Residual energy purge complete. Proceeding immediately with decommission."

"Good."

"Order confirmed. Initiating engine separation sequence. Energy conversion disconnected. Power transfer released. Anchor release in 3... 2... 1."

KUUNG.

A vibration traveled through the ship as a massive object broke away from the stern.

"Captain. Warp Engine separation complete."

Kang Jihyun swallowed without thinking. She had done everything she could. Now she could only hope the heavens would help — that there would be no casualties, and that her choice had been the right one.

KUGUGUGUGUNG!

The Warp Engine that had fallen beside Queen Munjeong's tomb shook violently. Space itself warped from inside the engine. Everything was sucked in at once, as if a tiny black hole had formed.

And a moment later—

KRAAAAANG!

A blinding white flash erupted. The shockwave spread in every direction.

KUGUGUGUNG!

The bridge lurched as if an earthquake had struck. Then the sharp vibrations faded away as if they had never existed.

It was over. She had saved a battleship that had nearly been totaled the moment it rolled off the line.

The wave of relief lasted only a moment. The first thing that came to Kang Jihyun's mind was casualties.

"Hyperia. Please check for casualties."

Images of the blast site flickered rapidly across Hyperia's pupils. Kang Jihyun watched her with a tense expression.

"Thank god."

Kang Jihyun let out a sigh of relief. The tension drained from her shoulders. With a much more relaxed face, she asked,

"What about the main gun? Did it break?"

Is there any reason I'd need to fire the main gun again within twenty-four hours?

Kang Jihyun had no reason to go into the Tower and fight monsters right this second. She had even less reason to force the main gun into use. And so she concluded that the main gun was fine. Only then did she truly relax.

"So everything's completely resolved now, right? There's no problem left, is there, Hyperia?"

Kang Jihyun tossed the question out without much worry. Hyperia shook her head, then held up two fingers.

"Two issues remain."

"Two of them? What are they?"

"The first is..."

Kang Jihyun swallowed hard. She waited for Hyperia's next words with a worried face.